There are a bunch of firsts contained in these two pages. We learn the origin of the K-Metal; we see its effects on Superman and on Earthlings; and Superman figures out, for the very first time, what his origin is!

"The bottom line involves choices. Neither gods nor humans have ever stood calmly in a minefield forever. Good or evil, they are bound to choose. And when they do, you will see the truth of all that motivates us. As a thinking being, you have the obligation to choose. If the fate of all mankind were in your hands, what would your decision be? As a writer and an artist, I've drawn my answer." - Jack Kirby

Sure are a lot of what-ifs that this story presents...a Superman who has revealed his identity, and an element that makes him weak at the same time others become strong. I sometimes wonder how many years these comics characters were anticipated to last.

I sometimes wonder how many years these comics characters were anticipated to last.

Nice question, worthy of its own thread, really. I suppose the answer is "as long as the money keeps coming in"; I don't suppose anyone in 1938 thought that Superman would still be pulling in the cally dosh in 2007.

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Between the revolution and the firing-squad, there is always time for a glass of champagne.

It is interesting to see how K-Metal works differently than Kryptonite and the reason why it works of kryptonians, who during this era had super powers on krypton.

However, how can Superman remember when he lived on Krypton? According to TGSB:

"In May 1956, Superman is described as being able to recall every action of his life with his "super-human memory." Subsequent texts refer to Superman's "power of total memory" or "total-recall memory," noting that it enables the Man of Steel to remember everything he ever said or did. "

It is neat to see that he was suppose to have those powers as early as 1940, yet they didn't become canon until 1956???

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"I loved Super-Monkey; always wanted to do something with him but it never happened."- Elliot S! Maggin

I think the only way he made that deduction was from the professor's short line about the people of Krypton being far advanced. It actually seems to need a little more explanation, since he only then makes the connection.

Definitely explanation intended for the reader, and I think you're right, it's a bit clunky to have Superman himself do the explaining here. I think that bit of dialog needs to be chalked up to speculation on his part, as everything clicks together in his mind.

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"The bottom line involves choices. Neither gods nor humans have ever stood calmly in a minefield forever. Good or evil, they are bound to choose. And when they do, you will see the truth of all that motivates us. As a thinking being, you have the obligation to choose. If the fate of all mankind were in your hands, what would your decision be? As a writer and an artist, I've drawn my answer." - Jack Kirby

It was a bit of a stretch - but I thought it was a decent enough try, considering the pace of the story at this point. The primary point of logic was simply the fact that the K-Metal worked oppositely on him than on a human - and he appears to have assumed the rest. You know, what would be a real kick is if K-Metal had turned out to be parasitic on any Kryptonian - pulling power from them and transferring it to humans.

So many places one can do with that.

DC really should have just published the K-Metal story as an Elseworlds. It would have been sweet!

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"If I print "She was stark naked"--& then proceeded to describe her person in detail, what critic would not howl?--but the artist does this & all ages gather around & look & talk & point." - Mark Twain